Cities must plan ahead for innovation without leaving people behind

Yung Wu contributor Yung Wu is the CEO of Mars Discovery District, a Toronto based innovator hub. From Tokyo to Toronto, challenges faced by people are often similar such as climate change, traffic, economic polarization, unemployment, etc. Since the future cities need to be digital, smart and innovative, one needs to come up with digital solutions like ride-sharing and home-sharing. We all know that changing a city is not a one night work, as it will take lots of efforts and innovation.

In order to make an operational city, one needs to keep patience as it required quality time. As and when the urban footprint will spread the potential for conflict and citizen priorities will also spread all over the world. Similarly, in the previous month, the Toronto Government released 1500 pages of innovative futuristic waterfront development which includes Sidewalks Labs. Many months we’re taken in order to understand and build the plan but the plan was accomplished in less than universal acclaim

When transparency is in equation one need to trust government and companies which is more needed to create and a more inclusive and sustainable future, but even the best intentions can be misunderstood or can cause great damage if the leaders fail to be transparent about their plans.

For example, when Sidewalks proposal was kept in front of Toronto citizen many people said that the decisions were made behind the door without public appeal, many staff and regions are already thriving innovation ecosystem. Therefore, to make a futuristic innovation it is needed to take a public consultation and make them engage in sustainable development.

To have a tech-enabled urban innovation it is necessary to access to the crucial data. To have complete data privacy so that one cannot use it against each other certain discipline and principles are to be followed. The outline principle for driving a smart city can be secured the use of emerging technology like facial recognition, laser eye recognition, etc.